Multi-generational grows

Multi-generational travel continues to fire in Fiji, and high-end resorts have been quick to cater for this market.

Multi-bedroom residences with private pools, family resorts within resorts, school holiday dispensations at adult-only resorts and increased ‘child ages’ were among the options put in front of agents last week at Tourism Fiji’s series of luxury and boutique cocktail evenings. Vomo is seeing around three big family groups a week, and Kiwis make up half of them, says director of sales and marketing, Karen Marvell. As well as 32 villas, Vomo offers four residences with two more to be built by next year. Its most recent development is an adult’s only zone with a new F$1.5m swimming pool to attract the couples market as well as families. ‘There is a big opportunity in multigenerational travel and massive money to be made for agents who sell luxury,’ says Marvell. At the new Six Senses on Malolo Island, 24 villas and nine residences (there will eventually be 60 in total) all come with private pools. ‘We are one year old now and we’ve had a fantastic response from retailers,’ says director of sales and marketing, Carl Amos. ‘There are high net worth clients looking for this kind of property, and it is particularly suited to multigenerational family holidays or groups of friends celebrating milestones.’ Six Senses has four restaurant/bar options as well as a deli for snacks and ingredients for in-villa cooking, or, guests can arrange for a personal chef to whip up a private in-villa meal. At Savusavu’s Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort, two children under thirteen stay free with two adults.

Marketing and sales director, Christine McCann says the big selling point is the one-on-one nanny service from 9am to 9pm for under sixes. Six to 12-year-olds have a ‘Fiji buddy’ on a one to five ratio and can take part in a daily ‘school under the sea’ and a masterchef programme. And the all-inclusivity means that agents get commission on all spend, including meals. ‘At the lower-end resorts, your clients might spend just as much as they would at JeanMichel Cousteau, but you don’t get paid commission on all of it.’ McCann describes the family area as a ‘resort within a resort’ while an adults-only area caters for those seeking romance. Nanuku Auberge Resort Fiji, near the country’s adventure capital Pacific Harbour, also offers one nanny per child under six. Its six-bedroom villa sleeps 12 adults and four children. Meanwhile, in northern Yasawas, Yasawa Island Resort & Spa is also seeing an increase in multi-generational families staying. The adults-only resort allows children during school holidays when it offers ‘sandpaper days’ for kids.